Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the Office of Statewide Prosecution launched a criminal investigation into OpenAI and its artificial intelligence app, ChatGPT. The decision to launch the investigation comes after an initial review by prosecutors of the chat logs between ChatGPT and the gunman who opened fire at Florida State University last year, Phoenix Ikner.

“Florida is leading the way in cracking down on AI’s use in criminal behavior, and if ChatGPT were a person, it would be facing charges for murder,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “This criminal investigation will determine whether OpenAI bears criminal responsibility for ChatGPT’s actions in the shooting at Florida State University last year.”

“It is important that all are aware of the risks of this new technology, and the harms it can and has already caused in our communities,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass. “The more we can educate ourselves, the better we can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities from scams, fraud, and much worse.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier issued Civil Investigative Demands (CID) to several major corporations and environmental groups as part of an investigation into potential antitrust violations.

“Environmental groups are pressuring corporations to abandon free market principles and raise prices on consumers for products they don’t want, and many corporations continue their associations with these groups,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Our office provided them with a sufficient opportunity to respond to our inquiries regarding potential violations of the law. Time’s up.”

Unilever, Coca-Cola, Target, Nestle, Mondelez International Holdings LLC, the U.S. Plastics Pact, the Consumer Goods Forum, and the Green Blue Institute all received CIDs. The CIDs are investigating suspicions that the corporations may have engaged in collusive partnerships through and with the environmental groups that, among other things, restricted trade, increased prices for consumers, and diminished free market competition.

The filings require the corporations and groups to produce documentation including: Continue reading →

Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the Distinguished Victim Services Award recipients during the National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Ceremony. Every year, the Florida Attorney General’s Office honors victim advocates and law enforcement officers who go above and beyond the call of duty to assist crime victims. Attorney General Uthmeier recognized the 2025 award winners during a ceremony in the Florida Cabinet Meeting Room this morning.

“These law enforcement officers and victim advocates meet victims on the worst days of their lives and make the choice to fight for them every day,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “It is an honor to recognize them for their service to our great state. We will stand together to ensure victims’ rights come first.”

The following law enforcement officers received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Victim Services Award:

• Corporal Amanda Baranowski, Tampa Police Department;
• Detective Stephen Buscemi, Palm Beach Police Department;
• Detective Cora Milliken, Green Cove Springs Police Department; and
• Commander Daniel Mosquera, Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.

The following victim advocates received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Victim Services Award: Continue reading →